The Volkswagen Group breathed a sigh of relief at the end of calendar year as its core brand recorded an all time high manufacturing record. The Volkswagen brand manufactured six million (60 lakhs) vehicles in 2017 across its 50 manufacturing facilities in 14 countries around the globe.
The German giant believes the largest model offensive in 2017 combined with growing global demand made the record production possible. The best selling models including Jetta, Golf, Santana, Passat, and the growing demand for the Tiguan and newly-launched new Polo, Arteon and T-Roc majorly contributed to the six million production figure. The brand's global product portfolio now includes over 60 models.
Thomas Ulbrich, member of the board of management, Volkswagen logistics, commenting on the production milestone, said, “More than six million vehicles produced in 12 months - there is one thing that this shows above all: our plants and employees are continually improving their production competence. We have top teams in production which successfully master growing demand from customers."
The largest model offensive in the VW history was a part of the carmaker’s TRANSFORM 2025+ strategy. Last year VW launched 10 new models across the global markets. In the upcoming year, the entire product range is set to be renewed and expanded in the core segments such as SUVs and e-mobility, says the carmaker.
In its first phase of transformation, the highly demanding SUV segment is to be boosted. By 2020, the brand will offer 19 SUV models throughout the world. It will thus increase the share of SUVs in the overall model range by up to 40 per cent. The second phase will kick in by 2020, when the brand will focus on the extension of its I.D. family. This I.D. sub brand is the future of Volkswagen. Currently comprising of three models, the German carmaker will be introducing newer models in quick succession from 2020 onwards as a part of its worldwide electric offensive. Volkswagen promises around one million electric cars to reach the roads by 2025.
